The FBI is using its extensive community outreach to Muslims and other groups to secretly gather intelligence in violation of federal law, the American Civil Liberties Union alleged Thursday.

Citing internal bureau documents, the ACLU said agents in California are attending meetings at mosques and other events and illegally recording information about the attendees’ political and religious affiliations.

Washington Post, 1 December 2011

See also ACLU press release, 1 December 2011

And “Big Brother, come clean: The FBI is misusing “community outreach” programs for intelligence gathering”, ACLU Blog of Rights, 1 December 2011

Also “CAIR concerned about FBI’s use of ‘outreach’ to spy on Muslims”, CAIR press release, 1 December 2011